High-speed escalator for slope

ABSTRACT

In the escalator with a high speed inclined section, a shape of an auxiliary rail is set in a section between a forward path side horizontal section and a forward path side constant inclined section of a circulation path such that, of steps adjacent to each other, a moving track of a relative position of a step on a lower step side with respect to a step on an upper step side is the same as a surface shape of a riser of the step on the upper step side.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates to an escalator with a high speed inclinedsection in which steps move faster in an inclined section than in upperand lower horizontal sections.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Nowadays, a large number of escalators of great height areinstalled in subway stations or the like. In an escalator of this type,the passenger is obliged to stand on a step for a long period of time,which is often rather uncomfortable. In view of this, a high-speedescalator has been developed. However, in such a high-speed escalator,there is a limitation regarding the traveling speed from the viewpointof allowing the passengers to get off and on safely.

[0003] In view of this, there has been proposed an escalator with a highspeed inclined section in which the steps move faster in theintermediate inclined section than in the upper and lower horizontalsections, whereby it is possible to shorten the traveling time for thepassenger.

[0004]FIG. 4 is a schematic side view showing a conventional escalatorwith a high speed inclined section described, for example, in JP51-116586 A. In the figure, a plurality of steps 2 coupled in an endlessmanner are provided in a main frame 1. The steps 2 are driven by a driveunit (step driving means) 3 and moved to circulate.

[0005] A forward path side section of a circulation path of the steps 2has a forward path upper side horizontal section A to be an upper sideplatform portion, a forward path side upper curved section B, a forwardpath side constant inclination section C, a forward path side lowercurved section D, and a forward path lower side horizontal section E tobe a lower side platform portion.

[0006] Next, FIG. 5 is a side view showing the vicinity of the forwardpath side upper curved section B of FIG. 4 in an enlarged state. In thefigure, a step 2 has a tread 4 for carrying a passenger; a riser 5formed to be bent at a front or rear end of the tread 4; a drivingroller shaft 6; a pair of rotatable driving rollers 7 attached to thedriving roller shaft 6; a trailing roller shaft 8; and a pair ofrotatable trailing rollers 9 attached to the trailing roller shaft 8.

[0007] Each driving roller 7 is guided by a driving rail 10 supported bya main frame 1. Each trailing roller 9 is guided by a trailing rail 11supported by the main frame 1. Note that shapes of the forward path sidedriving rail 10 and the forward path side trailing rail 11 are formedsuch that the tread 4 of the step 2 always keeps a level in forward pathside sections.

[0008] The driving roller shafts 6 of the adjacent steps 2 are coupledwith each other by a link mechanism 13. The link mechanism 13 has firstto fifth links 14 to 18.

[0009] One end portion of the first link 14 is pivotably coupled to thedriving roller shaft 6. The other end portion of the first link 14 ispivotably coupled to a middle portion of the third link 16 via a shaft20. One end portion of the second link 15 is pivotably coupled to thedriving roller shaft 6 of the step 2 adjacent to it. The other endportion of the second link 15 is pivotably coupled to a middle portionof the third link 16 via the shaft 20.

[0010] One end portion of the fourth link 17 is pivotably coupled to amiddle portion of the first link 14. One end portion of the fifth link18 is pivotably coupled to a middle portion of the second link 15. Theother end portions of the fourth and fifth links 17 and 18 are coupledto one end portion of the third link 16 via a sliding shaft 21.

[0011] A guiding groove 16 a for guiding slide of the sliding shaft 21in a longitudinal direction of the third link 16 is provided at one endportion of the third link 16. A rotatable auxiliary roller 19 isprovided at the other end portion of the third link 16. The auxiliaryroller 19 is guided by an auxiliary rail 22 supported by the main frame1.

[0012] The auxiliary roller 19 is guided by the auxiliary rail 22,whereby the link mechanism 13 is transformed and a gap between theadjacent steps 2, that is, an interval between the driving roller shafts6 of the adjacent steps 2 is changed. In other words, a track of theauxiliary rail 22 is designed so that the gap between the adjacent steps2 changes.

[0013] Next, operation thereof will be described. A speed of the step 2is changed by changing the interval between the driving roller shafts 6of the adjacent steps 2. That is, in a forward path upper sidehorizontal section A and a forward path lower side horizontal section Ewhere a passenger gets on and off the elevator, the interval between thedriving roller shafts 6 becomes the smallest, and the step 2 moves atlow speed. In addition, in a forward path side constant inclined sectionC, the interval between the driving roller shafts 6 becomes the largest,and the step 2 moves at high speed. Moreover, in a forward path sideupper curved section B and a forward path side lower curved section D,the interval between the driving roller shafts 6 is changed, and thestep 2 accelerates or decelerates to travel.

[0014] The first, second, fourth, and fifth links 14, 15, 17, and 18constitute a so-called pantograph type quadric link mechanism, and anangle defined by the first and second links 14 and 15 can be increasedand reduced with the third link 16 as a symmetrical axis. Accordingly,an interval between the driving roller shafts 6 coupled to the first andsecond links 14 and 15 can be changed.

[0015] In the upper and lower horizontal sections A and E of FIG. 4, theinterval between the driving roller shafts 6 of the adjacent steps 2 isthe smallest. When an interval between the driving rail 10 and theauxiliary rail 22 is reduced from this state, the link mechanism 13moves in the same manner as a movement of a frame of an umbrella at thetime when it is opened, and the interval between the driving rollershafts 6 of the adjacent steps 2 increases.

[0016] In the constant inclined section C of FIG. 4, the intervalbetween the driving rail 10 and the auxiliary rail 22 is the smallest,and the interval between the driving roller shafts 6 of the adjacentsteps 2 is the largest. Therefore, a speed of the step 2 in this areareaches the maximum. In addition, in this state, the first and secondlinks 14 and 15 are arranged substantially in a straight line.

[0017] However, in the conventional escalator with a high speed inclinedsection constituted as described above, the auxiliary rail 22 in each ofthe forward path side upper curved section B and the forward path sidelower curved section D is formed substantially in a mere arc shape whichsmoothly joins the horizontal sections A and E and the constant inclinedsection C. Therefore, in the forward path side upper curved section Band the forward path side lower curved section D, a track of relativemovement of a step 2 adjacent to a certain step 2 (track of a relativechange of positions of the driving roller shafts 6 of the adjacent steps2) is not in conformity with a shape of the riser 5.

[0018] In addition, in FIG. 5, a length of the tread 4 is determinedsuch that a gap is not generated between the riser 5 and a leading edgeof the tread 4 of the step 2 adjacent to it in the horizontal sections Aand E and the constant inclined section C. In the case in which thelength of the tread 4 is determined as described above and the auxiliaryrail 22 in each of the forward path side upper curved section B and theforward path side lower curved section D is formed substantially in amere arc shape, interference occurs between the riser 5 and the leadingedge of the tread 4, and smooth movement of the step 2 becomes difficultto be realized in the forward path side upper curved section B and theforward path side lower curved section D.

[0019] Conversely, in the case in which the length of the tread 4 isdetermined such that the leading edge of the tread 4 does not interferewith the riser 5 in the forward path side upper curved section B and theforward path side lower curved section D, and the auxiliary rail 22 ineach of the forward path side upper curved section B and the forwardpath side lower curved section D is formed substantially in a mere arcshape, as shown in FIG. 6, a gap 23 is generated between the riser 5 andthe leading edge of the tread 4 in the horizontal sections A and E andthe constant inclined section C.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0020] The present invention has been made in order to solve the problemdescribed above, and it is therefore an object of the present inventionto obtain an escalator with a high speed inclined section which canprevent a leading edge of a tread from interfering with a riser of astep adjacent to it or a gap from being generated between a riser of astep and the tread which are adjacent to each other.

[0021] To this end, according to one aspect of the present invention,there is provided an escalator with a high speed inclined sectioncomprising: a main frame; a plurality of steps each having a tread forcarrying a passenger; a riser provided at a front or rear end of thetread; a driving roller shaft; and a driving roller rotatable about thedriving roller shaft, the plurality of steps being coupled in an endlessmanner to be moved so as to circulate along a circulation path; aplurality of link mechanisms which couple the driving roller shafts ofthe steps adjacent to each other for changing an interval between thedriving roller shafts by being transformed; a rotatable auxiliary rollerprovided to each of the link mechanisms; a driving rail provided to themain frame for guiding a movement of the driving roller; and anauxiliary rail provided to the main frame for guiding a movement of theauxiliary roller and transforms the link mechanisms, wherein a shape ofthe auxiliary rail is set in a section between a forward path sidehorizontal section and a forward path side constant inclined section ofthe circulation path such that, of the steps adjacent to each other, amoving track of a relative position of the step on a lower step sidewith respect to the step on an upper step side is the same as a surfaceshape of the riser of the step on the upper step side.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022]FIG. 1 is a side view showing the vicinity of a forward path sideupper curved section of an escalator with a high speed inclined sectionaccording to an embodiment of the present invention in an enlargedstate;

[0023]FIG. 2 is a front view showing the link mechanism of the escalatorwith the high speed inclined section in FIG. 1;

[0024]FIG. 3 is an explanatory view for explaining a determinationmethod of the shape of the auxiliary rail in FIG. 1;

[0025]FIG. 4 is a schematic side view showing an example of aconventional escalator with a high speed inclined section;

[0026]FIG. 5 is a side view showing the vicinity of the forward pathside upper curved section of FIG. 4 in an enlarged state; and

[0027]FIG. 6 is a side view showing another example of the vicinity ofthe forward path side upper curved section of FIG. 4.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0028] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will behereinafter described with reference to the drawings.

[0029]FIG. 1 is a side view showing the vicinity of a forward path sideupper curved section of an escalator with a high speed inclined sectionaccording to an embodiment of the present invention in an enlargedstate, and FIG. 2 is a front view showing the link mechanism of theescalator with the high speed inclined section of FIG. 1.

[0030] In the figures, a step 2 has a tread 4 for carrying a passenger;a riser 5 formed to be bent at the front or rear end of the tread 4; adriving roller shaft 6; a pair of rotatable driving rollers 7 attachedto the driving roller shaft 6, a trailing roller shaft 8; and a pair ofrotatable trailing rollers 9 attached to the trailing roller shaft 8.

[0031] The driving roller 7 is guided by a driving rail 10 supported bya main frame 1 (see FIG. 4). The trailing roller 9 is guided by atrailing rail 11 supported by the main frame 1. Note that shapes of theforward path side driving rail 10 and the forward path side trailingrail 11 are formed such that the tread 4 of the step 2 always keeps alevel in forward path side sections.

[0032] The driving roller shafts 6 of the adjacent steps 2 are coupledwith each other by a link mechanism 13. The link mechanism 13 has firstto fifth links 14 to 18.

[0033] One end portion of the first link 14 is pivotably coupled to thedriving roller shaft 6. The other end portion of the first link 14 ispivotably coupled to a middle portion of the third link 16 via a shaft20. One end portion of the second link 15 is pivotably coupled to thedriving roller shaft 6 of the step 2 adjacent to it. The other endportion of the second link 15 is pivotably coupled to a middle portionof the third link 16 via the shaft 20.

[0034] One end portion of the fourth link 17 is pivotably coupled to amiddle portion of the first link 14. One end portion of the fifth link18 is pivotably coupled to a middle portion of the second link 15. Theother end portions of the fourth and fifth links 17 and 18 are coupledto one end portion of the third link 16 via a sliding shaft 21.

[0035] A guiding groove 16 a for guiding slide of the sliding shaft 21in a longitudinal direction of the third link 16 is provided at one endportion of the third link 16. A rotatable auxiliary roller 19 isprovided at the other end portion of the third link 16. The auxiliaryroller 19 is guided by an auxiliary rail 22 supported by the main frame1.

[0036] The auxiliary roller 19 is guided by the auxiliary rail 22,whereby the link mechanism 13 is transformed and a gap between theadjacent steps 2, that is, an interval between the driving roller shafts6 of the adjacent steps 2 is changed. In other words, a track of theauxiliary rail 22 is designed such that a gap between the adjacent steps2 changes.

[0037] Next, a method of determining a shape of the auxiliary rail 22according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is an explanatoryview for explaining a determination method of a shape of the auxiliaryrail 22 of FIG. 1. In addition, FIG. 3 is a view of the step 2 and thelink mechanism 13 in the vicinity of a forward path side upper curvedsection B viewed from sides thereof, and shows the case in which a shapeof the riser 5 is planar (linear) as an example. In addition, for thesake of simplicity, only the first and second links 14 and 15 are shownin the link mechanism 13.

[0038] When a ratio of moving speeds of the step 2 between a horizontalsection A and a constant inclined section C is assumed to be k, and aninclination angle of the constant inclined section C with respect to thehorizontal section A is assumed to be α, an inclination angle θ of thelinear riser 5 is represented by the following expression:

θ=tan⁻¹{(k sin α)/k cos α−1}  (1)

[0039] In order to prevent a leading edge of the tread 4 frominterfering with the riser 5 or a gap from being generated between theleading edge of the tread 4 and the riser 5 during speed change in theupper curved section B, it is sufficient to set a moving track ofrelative positions of the adjacent steps 2 as a straight line having thesame inclination as the riser 5. That is, if the leading edges of thetreads 4 of the adjacent steps 2 move along a surface of the inclinedriser 5, neither the interference nor the gap is generated.

[0040] A specific method of determining a shape of the auxiliary rail 22will be hereinafter described.

[0041] Of the two steps 2 adjacent to each other, a position of an axisH of the driving roller 7 in the step 2 on an upper step side isrepresented by coordinates (x₃ (i), y₃ (i)), and a position of an axis Fof the driving roller 7 in the step 2 on a lower step side isrepresented by coordinates (x₁ (i), y₁ (i)).

[0042] Assuming that a state in which the axis H is on a boundarybetween the constant inclined section C and the upper curved section Bis an initial state, an initial position (x₃ (1), y₃ (1)) of the axis His represented by the following expressions. Note that an x coordinateat a border point between the horizontal section A and the upper curvedsection B is assumed to be a, and a radius of curvature of a movingtrack of the axis H in the upper curved section B is assumed to be R.

x ₃(1)=a+R sin α  (2)

y ₃(1)=R cos α  (3)

[0043] In addition, when a distance between the driving roller shafts 6in the horizontal section A is assumed to be w, a distance s between thedriving roller shafts 6 in the constant inclined section C is found ass=kw. Further, an initial position (x₁ (1), y₁ (1)) of the axis F of thedriving roller shaft 6 in the step 2 on the lower step side isrepresented by the following expressions:

x ₁(1)=x ₃(1)+s·cos α  (4)

y ₁(1)=y ₃(1)−s·sin α  (5)

[0044] Next, movements of the step 2 at the time of an ascendingoperation will be described. When a speed in a step advancing directionin the horizontal section A is assumed to be v₀, a speed v₁ in the stepadvancing direction in the constant inclined section C is represented bythe following expression:

v ₁ =kv ₀  (6)

[0045] In addition, a time t_(ac) necessary for the step 2 to move thedistance s between the driving roller shafts 6 in the constant inclinedsection C is represented by the following expression:

t _(ac) =s/v ₁  (7)

[0046] Moreover, when it is assumed that movements of the axes F and Hof the driving rollers 6 are calculated for each time interval found bydividing t_(ac) into m equal sections, a time interval dt is representedby the following expression:

dt=t _(ac) /m  (8)

[0047] Positions of the axes F and H at a time t=dt(i−1) will behereinafter found by sorting them according to i. (In the aboveexpression, i=2, 3, 4, 5, . . . n)

[0048] In the case of 2≦i≦m+1

[0049] A position (x₁ (i), y₁ (i)) of the axis F is represented by thefollowing expressions:

x ₁(i)=x ₁(1)−v ₁ ·t·cos α  (9)

y ₁(i)=y ₁(1)+v ₁ ·t·sin α  (10)

[0050] In addition, a position (x₂ (i), y₂ (i)) of a point G to whichthe axis F is horizontally moved by w on the upper step side isrepresented by the following expressions:

x ₂(i)=x ₁(i)−W  (11)

y ₂(i)=y ₁(i)  (12)

[0051] Here, since a position (x₃ (i), y₃ (i)) of the axis H is a pointof intersection of a straight line with an inclination −tan θ passingthe point G and a circle of a radius R with a point L as a center, theposition is represented by the following expressions:

x ₃(i)=[a−p ₁(i)q ₁(i)−{square root}{square root over ((a−p ₁(i)q₁(i))²−(1+p ₁(i)²)(a ² +q ₁(i)² −R ²))}]/(1+p ₁(i)²)  (13)

y ₃(i)=p ₁(i)x ₃(i)+q ₁(i)  (14)

[0052] Here,

[0053] p₁(i)=−tan θ,

[0054] q₁(i)=x₂(i)tan θ+y₂(i)

[0055] In the case of i>m+1

[0056] Since the position (x₁ (i), y₁ (i)) of the axis F tracks a trackon which the axis H has passed, the position is represented by thefollowing expressions:

x ₁(i)=x ₃(i−m)  (15)

y ₁(i)=y ₃(i−m)  (16)

[0057] The position (x₂ (i), y₂ (i)) of the point G and the position (x₃(i), y₃ (i) ) of the axis H are represented by the followingexpressions, respectively, in the same manner as in the expressions(11), (12), (13), and (14).

x ₂(i)=x ₁(i)−w  (17)

y ₂(i)=y ₁(i)  (18)

x ₃(i)=[a−p ₁(i)q ₁(i)−{square root}{square root over ((a−p ₁(i)q₁(i))²−(1+p ₁(i)²)(a ² +q ₁(i)² −R ²))}]/(1+p ₁(i)²)  (19)

y ₃(i)=p ₁(i)x ₃(i)+q ₁(i)  (20)

[0058] Here,

[0059] p₁(i)=−tan θ,

[0060] q₁(i)=x₂(i)tan θ+y₂(i)

[0061] However, at the time of x₃(i)<a, since the position of the axis His a point of intersection of the straight line with an inclination −tanθ passing the point G and a straight line y=R, the position isrepresented by the following expressions:

x ₃(i)=(R−q ₁(i))/p ₁(i)  (21)

y ₃(i)=R  (22)

[0062] According to the method described above, the positions of thedriving roller axes F and H at the time when the interval between thedriving roller shafts 6 of the adjacent steps 2 changes in the uppercurved section B (at the time when the speed of the step 2 changes) canbe found. Then, if these positions are found, an axial position of theauxiliary roller 19 can also be found. This will be described using FIG.2.

[0063]FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the link mechanism 13. When it isassumed that axial positions of the driving rollers 7 of the adjacentsteps 2 are F and H and both lengths of the first and second links 14and 15 are L₁, a position of an axis (inflection point) P of the shaft20 coupling the first link 14 and the second link 15 can be found as anpoint of intersection of a circle of a radius L₁ with the axis F as acenter and a circle of a radius L₁ with the axis H as a center.

[0064] In addition, a position of an axis Q of the auxiliary roller 19can be found as a position to which a bisector of an angle defined bythe first link 14 and the second link 15 is extended downward from theinflection point P by L₂. If a moving track of the axis Q of theauxiliary roller 19 is found, a shape of the auxiliary rail 22 can bedetermined by drawing parallel lines which are apart from the track by adistance equivalent to a radius of the auxiliary roller 19.

[0065] The auxiliary rail 22 of FIG. 1 is arranged in accordance withthe shape determined by the above-mentioned method. As is evident fromFIG. 1, the auxiliary rail 22 is not smoothly curved from the uppercurved section B to the constant inclined section C and its curved shapechanges discontinuously.

[0066] In this way, in this embodiment, since the shape of the auxiliaryrail 22 is set such that the moving track of the relative positions ofthe adjacent steps 2 substantially coincides with the surface shape ofthe riser 5, an escalator with a high speed inclined section can beobtained in which, even at the time when the relative positions of theadjacent steps 2 change, the leading edge of the tread 4 of the step 2adjacent to the riser 5 never interferes with the riser 5 or the gap 23is never generated between the leading edge of the tread 4 and the riser5.

[0067] Note that, although the upper curved section is described in theabove-mentioned embodiment, the shape of the auxiliary rail 22 can bedetermined in the same manner for the lower curved section.

[0068] In addition, although the step 2 having the riser 5 of a planarshape is described in the above-mentioned embodiment, the shape of theauxiliary rail 22 can be determined in the same manner even if the shapeof the riser 5 is a curved surface shape.

[0069] Moreover, although the shape of the auxiliary rail 22 isdetermined directly from the moving track of the axis Q of the auxiliaryroller 19, which is found from the shape of the riser 5, in theabove-mentioned embodiment, the shape of the auxiliary rail 22 may bedetermined after approximating the moving track of the axis Q with anarc by a straight line, other polynomials, or the like.

[0070] Furthermore, it is needless to mention that, in a section wheremoving loci of the axis Q join in a discontinuous manner from the uppercurved section or the lower curved section to the constant inclinedsection, the shape of the auxiliary rail 22 may be determined afterinterpolating the moving loci by a curved line of a small R.

1. An escalator with a high speed inclined section comprising: a mainframe; a plurality of steps each having a tread for carrying apassenger; a riser provided at a front or rear end of the tread; adriving roller shaft; and a driving roller rotatable about the drivingroller shaft, the plurality of steps being coupled in an endless mannerto be moved so as to circulate along a circulation path; a plurality oflink mechanisms which couple the driving roller shafts of the stepsadjacent to each other for changing an interval between the drivingroller shafts by being transformed; a rotatable auxiliary rollerprovided to each of the link mechanisms; a driving rail provided to themain frame for guiding a movement of the driving roller; and anauxiliary rail provided to the main frame for guiding a movement of theauxiliary roller and transforms the link mechanisms, wherein a shape ofthe auxiliary rail is set in a section between a forward path sidehorizontal section and a forward path side constant inclined section ofthe circulation path such that, of the steps adjacent to each other, amoving track of a relative position of the step on a lower step sidewith respect to the step on an upper step side is the same as a surfaceshape of the riser of the step on the upper step side.
 2. An escalatorwith a high speed inclined section according to claim 1, wherein thesurface shape of the riser is planar.